Chapter 267: Cooking Ramen
Sunlight peeked through Naruto's bedroom window. As he slowly rose from his sleep, he saw that William had already gotten out of bed.
"Guess I'm making breakfast," he yawned.
Before William, the idea of having a family member had felt foreign. For as long as Naruto could remember, he had navigated the Leaf Village alone, often facing challenges without the support of someone who understood him.
Since discovering that he had a cousin in William, Naruto's perspective had changed slightly. The bond they were forming had become essential, especially as he processed the loss of his mentor, Iruka.
The emotional toll of losing Iruka was still evident, and in the aftermath, Naruto found himself contemplating what it meant to have a family.
As he prepared his breakfast, flashes of his past resurfaced. Kiba, Ino, Shikamaru, and Iruka had all walked among the villagers once, and their absence felt strange now.
Naruto recalled the days following Iruka's death. His friends—Jada and others—had been there for him during that difficult transition. They talked with him, assured him that it wasn't Alice's fault, and that Orochimaru's actions played a larger role in the tragedy.
Losing Iruka had been significant; he was Naruto's first real friend, someone who saw him for who he was rather than the reputation he carried.
Upon entering the kitchen, sounds of cooking followed. Oddly enough, having William by his side, he learned that cooking a well-balanced meal was an essential part of the day.
Gone were the moments Naruto drank spoiled milk out of the carton. Now he actually read his ingredients and thought about what he put over a stove.
Since William was clearly not here, today Naruto wanted to make "tamagoyaki," a traditional Japanese omelet.